Liquid dispensing system

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a modular liquid-dispensing system comprising modules which contain pump and electric components and a support having positions for receiving the modules; wherein the modules are positionally interchangeable on the support without interchange of function of the interchanged modules. The modular dispensing system provides a versatile liquid detergent dosing and dispensing system suitable for a wide range of washing processes, and easily adaptable to different processes or process conditions.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 659,148, filed Oct. 9, 1984, nowabandoned.

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing systems and inparticular to multi-modular systems suitable for dispensing and dosingliquid detergent products.

In the field of industrial and semi-industrial cleaning liquiddispensing and dosing systems are well-known and of growing importance.Such systems comprise one or more dosing pumps, mostly of theperistaltic type, which are operated by an electrical controlling systempositioned in- or outside the washing machine. Conventional dispensingsystems are in general integrated pump/control systems, which are fullydedicated to the specific type of washing process they serve, the numberof pumps being dependent on the number of different liquid products(detergent, bleach, conditioner etc.) which are needed in the particularwashing process.

An important disadvantage of the conventional systems is that they areoften difficult to adapt when changing to other types of washingprocesses in which a different number of liquid products are needed.Also if malfunctioning of one of the components occurs, diagnosis by theuser himself is often complex or dangerous (entering in the electricsystem), so that a special service technician has to be called involvingboth time and money.

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a versatilemultimodular dispensing system which is suitable for a wide range ofwashing processes, both fabric and dishwashing, and which is easilyadaptable to different processes and process conditions. A furtherobject is to provide a system the maintenance of which is simple in thatall modular components are easily detachable and replaceable by the userhimself thus avoiding any delay in operation and hazards due to enteringinto the electric system.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a modular liquid-dispensingsystem comprising modules which contain pump and electric components,and a support having positions for receiving the modules, characterizedin that the modules are positionally interchangeable on the supportwithout interchange of function of the interchanged modules.

The dispensing system of the present invention normally comprisesvarious types of modules which differ in function, but havesubstantially similar external dimensions and shapes. A first type ofmodule has a control function and comprises electric components tooperate the liquid-pumping system, i.e., to control the timing andselection of the proper product pumps and appropriate pump speeds. Asecond type of module has an interface function comprising componentsfor transforming the main power supply down to correct voltage. Thenecessity of such module depends on the local safety regulations. Athird type of module comprises a liquid pump and means for driving thepump.

The modules are detachably mounted on a support. The support by means ofwhich the modules are attached to a surface such as one of the sides ofthe washing machine or a wall, is provided with means for housingelectric cabling which electrically interconnects the modules.

Preferably, the support takes the form of a backplate which can beattached to a surface by conventional means. Electric connectionsbetween the modules and the electric cabling in the backplate aresubstantially similar for all module-receiving positions on thebackplate, and should be such that each module is energized in aspecific way which is the same at all module-receiving positions in thebackplate.

Preferably, the electric connections in the backplate between themodules and the electric cabling system are of the multipin socket/plugtype having a number of pin connections which is sufficient to allow forseparate pin connections for each module. The electric cabling system isconnected to the pins of each socket/plug in similar configuration.

The uniform module dimensions and similar electric connections betweeneach module and the electric cabling in backplate provides the essentialfeature of the invention that all modules can be interchanged and themost suitable position of each module on the backplate can be selected.

In general it is preferred that the backplate has a girder-likestructure supporting the modules side by side in a row, but if sodesired the modules may also be supported by the backplate in differentconfigurations. The number of module receiving positions on thebackplate will normally equal the number of modules actually being used,but it may also be desirable that the number of positions on thesupporting backplate exceeds the number of modules, thereby enablingeasy extension and adaption of the number of pump modules in the casethat the washing process is changed which is being operated, and alarger number of e.g. pump modules is needed. If malfunctioning of oneof the components occurs, the user can disconnect the faulty module andreplace it by a functioning one, a procedure providing optimalmaintenance convenience. In this respect a malfunction-warning and-indication system may be of advantage.

The invention will now be further illustrated with reference to theaccompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a five-modular dispensing system, onlythree of the modules being drawn.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a supporting backplate section suitablefor receiving two modules.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of a module.

The modular dosing system comprises a supporting backplate 1 which issuitable for receiving modules 2. Although, in the instant example ofthe preferred embodiment the backplate 1 is capable of receiving fivemodules, the number of module-receiving positions on the backplate isdependent on the washing process being operated and the range of washingprocesses adaptation to which is desired.

The embodiment as illustrated comprises a controller module, aninterface module and a pump module which has tubing inlet 3 and outlet4, extension being possible to three pump modules which then may serve awashing process using three different liquid products instead of thesingle product washing process which is operated by the configuration asshown.

To ensure complete physical interchangeability of the modules 2 they aresimilar dimensioned, but only the shape and dimension of the rear side 5of the modules have to be identical to such detail that the modules maybe attached at any receiving position of the backplate 1.

The backplate will normally be attached to a vertical surface, such as awall, by conventional means e.g. screws through screw holes 6,7.

The shape of the backplate corresponds to and co-operates with theshapes of the rear sides of the modules. It comprises an inclined part 8ending in a cylindrically shaped part 9 which acts as a swivel pin foreasy suspension of the modules by means of a pivoting movement in a slot10 at the modular rear side.

The projecting part 11 of the module co-operates with a correspondingnotch 12 in the backplate so that the module is non-slidingly locatedboth horizontally and vertically.

A co-operating socket/plug system 13,14 is provided which is uniform forall receiving positions and by which the electric connection between themodules and the cabling in backplate is established when the module ispivoted down into position. The electric cabling system interconnectingthe modules via socket/plug connections 13,14 is incorporated in thecavity 15 inside the protruding part 16 of the backplate. Preferably thesocket/plug connections are of the multi-pin type having a sufficientnumber of pin connections to establish complete electricinterchangeability between all modules.

It is also preferred that the conduit cavity 15 is sealed in order toprevent any moisture entering the cavity. To this purpose there may beprovided sealing end caps 17 at both ends of the backplate and seals 18around sockets 13 or plugs 14.

Both the backplate and the modules may be manufactured from any suitablematerial, but synthetic materials are preferred, requiring a minimum ofmaintenance.

It is clear that to those skilled in the art to which this inventionrelates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodimentsof the invention will suggest themselves without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A modular liquid dispensing system consisting essentially ofone or more dosing pump modules and an electrical control system module,wherein the pump module and the control system module are each in arespective separate housing, and the dispensing system furthercomprises, a support provided with an electrical cabling system wired topositions on the support, each position being capable of detachablyreceiving any one of said modules, multi-pin socket/plug electricalconnectors being provided for interconnecting said modules via thecabling system when the modules are received at respective saidpositions, the connectors being wired such that each module can operatein accordance with its designated function, independently of theposition at which it is received on the support.
 2. A dispensing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said cabling system is contained in ahousing enabling said cabling system to be sealed from atmosphere.
 3. Adispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said modules arereceived at said positions.
 4. A dispensing system according to claim 3wherein the number of said modules equals the number of said positions.5. A dispensing system according to claim 3 wherein the number of saidpositions exceeds the number of said modules.